Deadpool strikes a comics-inspired pose in new movie photos

Comic-Con International kicks off in San Diego next week, so it's no surprise that studios are releasing new images and video to promote the projects they're bringing to this year's show. Never one to miss a party, Marvel's mouthy mercenary Deadpool got in on the action by appearing in several photos from the set of his upcoming film.

20th Century Fox debuted the trio of new photos featuring Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds in costume via Entertainment Weekly and Empire Magazine this week, and there's a lot to like -- and laugh at -- in the images. And if you know your comic books, you also might find something a little familiar about one of photos.

The first photo to debut (at EW.com) depicts Deadpool staring off into the distance amid a sea of highway wreckage, armed with a pair of intimidating handguns. It's the more serious of the photos, but it's also the photo that's generating the most buzz among hardcore Deadpool fans. After the image debuted, Deadpool creator Rob Liefeld was quick to point out (via Instagram) a similarity between the pose Reynolds strikes in the photo and the cover he drew for New Mutants #98, the issue that first introduced Deadpool to the Marvel Comics universe.

The power of a drawing. I introduced #Deadpool 24 years ago. I'd say this more than gets it right!! #robliefeld #newmutants #marvel #xforce

A photo posted by Robertliefeld (@robliefeld) on Jul 2, 2015 at 8:58am PDT

The other two Deadpool photos released this week tap into the comedy element of the character, with one showing the mutant mercenary hanging out on a highway guardrail in a scene that appears to be a live-action version of the digitally created, proof-of-concept video that was leaked almost exactly a year ago. In costume with a radio sitting nearby, Deadpool appears to be studying a crude drawing that explains his latest mission.

The third photo puts Reynolds as Deadpool front and center again, but also includes supporting actress Brianna Hildebrand as the mutant Negasonic Teenage Warhead. The pair are pictured standing in front of a taxi, with Hildebrand's character recreating the dour, goth-friendly look of her comic-book counterpart. (You can view all three photos below.)

Directed by Tim Miller from a script by Zombieland writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, Deadpool casts Reynolds as former special forces operative Wade Wilson, who receives accelerated healing powers from a military experiment that goes awry. Armed with his new abilities and his dark sense of humor, he attempts to hunt down the people who nearly killed him.

Along with Reynolds and Hildebrand, the film's cast also includes T.J. Miller as Weasel, Gina Carano as Angel Dust, Morena Baccarin as Copycat, and Ed Skrein as Ajax. Rumors have suggested that Hugh Jackman might make an appearance as Wolverine, but nothing has been confirmed at this point.